Education-focused research and training initiatives across Northern Ireland are set to accelerate following a €515,000 funding award from EPIC Futures NI, a policy innovation partnership led by Ulster University.

The investment supports eight projects linking education, skills development and employment inclusion.

The Phase 2 Policy Commissioning Call brings together higher education institutions, training providers, policymakers and industry partners to strengthen evidence-based approaches that connect education with sustainable employment outcomes.

Projects span youth education pathways, apprenticeships, AI-enabled skills hubs and inclusive recruitment practices, underlining the central role of education systems in addressing labour market exclusion.

Delivered in partnership with the Department for Communities, the Department for the Economy and the Department of Finance, the programme is backed by UK Research and Innovation and its councils, including ESRC, AHRC and Innovate UK. Funding allocations range from small awards of €35,000 to larger grants of up to €117,000.

Several projects focus directly on education-to-employment transitions. Ulster University and the YouthStart Consortium are examining how youth work supports engagement with education, employment and training, while Workplus Apprenticeships and IntrinsicAi are piloting an AI Pathways Navigator aligned to green skills education for Northern Ireland’s net zero workforce.

Another Ulster University-led study will assess how employer recruitment disclosures shape access for autistic jobseekers.

Partnerships include the University of Edinburgh, University of Strathclyde, the London School of Economics and community education organisations, reflecting the scale and complexity of education-led labour market challenges.

The funding builds on Phase 1 findings, which identified structural barriers preventing many people from progressing through education into work. Phase 2 outcomes are expected to inform education policy, curriculum design and employer engagement, with small awards concluding by June 2026 and larger projects by September 2026.

Explore the full breakdown of funded education and skills projects in the complete report.

Photo credits to EPIC Futures NI’s LinkedIn